looking to restore confidence in his campaign, a defiantly optimistic mitt romney rallied supporters under the lights in denver late sunday >> i need your help. we have got to stand together. we have got to work together. we're taking back america. we must keep this nation the hope of the earth. >> reporter: earlier romney refused to concede he's an underdog in a series of battleground states and accused the president of distorting his positions. >> i'm did not going to try to fool people into making people think things he doesn't. he's trying to fool people to make them believe i think things that i don't. >> reporter: privately romney and the president have been preparing for the debates, the first here in denver next week, but publicly the two campaigns are trying to lower expectations, even complimenting their opponent's debate skills. for his part on "60 minutes" president obama defended his record, while acknowledging he's failed to deliver one of his biggest promises. >> if you ask me what's my biggest disappointment is that we haven't changed the tone in washington as much as